First Generation

1. William IRWYN *, of Bonshaw Castle^1,2 died in 1335 in Scotland. He was born in Scotland.

He was known as William Irwyn of Bonshaw. Laird and leader of the border clan in Dumfries, near Lockerbie, Scotland. Bonshaw Castle dates back to 1022 A.D. and is still in ownership of the Irwin (Irving) family.

Per Elson Irwin's files:

Irvine: 1. Scots: habitation name from Irvine in Strathclyde or from Irving in Dumfries and Galloway region. The two names have become confused and are impossible to disentangle. Both are derived from a Celtic river name probably composed of elements ir=green fresh vin=water. There are two major Scottish families called Irvine. They share a common ancestor, Duncan, known as the first of Eryvine. He was killed at the Battle of Duncrub in 965. But these Scots were of Irish origin, descended from Cimeal Connell, a member of the O'Neil Clan. The two Scottish branches were established at Bonshaw in Dumfriesshire, and at Castle Drum in Aberdeenshire.

A branch of the Irvine Family was re-established in Northern Ireland where they built Castle Irvine in County Fermanaugh.

Members of the family went to settle in America including the brothers William (d. 1804), Andrew (d. 1789, and Matthew (d. 1827) who all served in the American Revolution. The names Irwin and Irvine are now as common in North Ireland as they are in Scotland.

2. English: from the given name Irwin, Erwyn. Everwine, Eofowine, composed of the elements eofor=wild boar + wine=friend.

3. Irish: Anglicized form of Gael OhEiremhoim = descendant of Eire, a personal name of uncertain origin. Variations: Irvin, Irwin, Urvine, Irving, Erving, Irwing, Everwin, O'Hirwin, O'Hirween.

4. Jewish: Spelling of Erwin, an adoption of the German spelling Ehrvine. Some Jewish families also used the spelling of Irving. ["A Dictionary of Surnames," Oxford University Press, 1988, by Hanks. Patrick and Flavis Hodges.]

"Irvine pronounced Irvin" by William R. Irvine of Yucaipa, Calif.

Being of the Drum Castle Branch of the Irvines (we still have a large key that supposedly fits one of Drum's doors,) and having preserved the original spelling, I've pursued its vagaries with some interest. As did my paternal grandfather, one Percy Shand Irvine, who was a member of the original "Irvine Society of America," based in Pennsylvania.

(I sent copies of a number of Irvine Society papers to the current "Clan Irwin" officers.)

If you visit England or Scotland, Irvine is inevitably, in my experience, pronounced "Irvin," which our family has always attempted to do with little success in the U.S.

No, it's not phonetic. Much of the English language is not phonetic. It's the way it came to be spelled and pronounced. Logic has nothing to do with it.

Getting the name pronounced correctly is even more difficult in California, where there is a large city named Irvine, but pronounced with a vine, as in wine. To me, it has an ugly grating sound.
How did this come to be?

The family of James Irvine, after whom this city is named once owned much of Orange County and were and are fabulously wealthy -- although money has not brought them a great deal of happiness.
I have a fairly well substantiated theory about how this all came to be. Not helped in the least by the Orange County Irvines, who apparently have no interest in their ancestry.

As we all know, the Irvines sprang forth in Scotland. But, according to some very authoratative figures I've seen, a huge majority of the Irvines et al in the U.S. actually arrived from Ireland (North Ireland to be exact).

Henry VIII of England, I have read, was involved with some war or another (probably more than one) during his reign, in which he was aided by the Scots. Emerging victorious, he saw fit to reward his allies with land. Unfortunately, the land he gave them was in Northern Ireland, and it already belonged to Irish people.

Nonetheless, many Scots moved to Ireland and began, we can easily believe, the conflict which continues until this day. Indeed, they, mainly, if not exclusively, went to Northern Ireland, and evidently included more than a few Irvines. There's a good-sized city called Irvinestown, not too far from Belfast. After all, if you weren't the first born son (who was most always named Alexander,) there was no place for you at Drum Castle.

But times got tough in Ireland, and an incredible portion of the population emigrated to Canada and the U.S. Even now, I was told, an Irishman, who visited just last week, the place is empty.

Oh, and the visitor also confirmed that, in Ireland, Irvine is pronounced with the "vine," as in "wine."
Evidently, and not at all surprisingly, the Irvines who founded the Irvine Ranch in what is now Orange County, were from Ireland, and pronounced the name the "Irish" way. Indeed, there's currently an Irish driver in Formula One auto racing competition named Eddie Irvine and he pronounces it like "wine" also. (He shows some promise, despite this unfortunate pronunciation.)

So, how did our branch of the family happen to stick with the Scottish pronunciation?

We know that another James Irvine was born in Scotland in 1788, married a Lady named Oswald Dundas Nichol in 1806, and moved to the Caribbean island of Antigua and had eight kids by the time he moved on to Montreal. Moving from the Caribbean to Canada must have represented a significant shock in culture, but especially temperature. But they persevered.

One of the kids, John Irvine married a Mary Shand in 1837 (she was the daughter of Lord William Shand, a prominent Scottish judge), and fathered a Henry Essen Irvine who eventually moved to Cambridge, Mass., and became my great-grandfather. From there, the family ended up in places like Round Lake, New York, Spokane, Washington (where my father was born). But never having been in Ireland, they kept pronouncing the name the Scottish way. Even if it's not phonetic.

So, according to my now speculative theory, all the Irvines and Irwins and Erwins, etc. are families who, accidentally or on purpose, changed the spelling of their names to make them more phonetic. I've read the claim of the clan-founding Irwins that the original William Delaware, armorer to Robert the Bruce, spelled it "Irwin." But I've seen at least as many citations wherein it was "Irvine," Take your choice. (Also Irwyn)

Next question: When did we all fit in with William Wallace of "Braveheart?"

IRVINE NARRATIVE

"There are two branches of the Irvine family that belonged to the baronage --Bonshaw and Drum. The Lairds of Drum were descended from William De Irvine, who was armor-bearer to Robert Bruce (King of Scotland), and was rewarded for his devoted services by a grant of the forest of Drum, Aberdunshire, at that time part of a royal forest."

Robert I of Scotland. Also called Robert the Bruce. Born 1274, died 1329. King of Scotland 1306-29. King Robert Bruce made Sir William de Irvine his armor-bearer and secretary. Sir William de Irvine married a granddaughter of Bruce, who was the daughter of Robert Douglas, Earl of Buchan (?). King gave him forest of Drum, which was then part of Royal Forest in Aberdeenshire. And from this union was derived the two great families of Bonshaw and Drum (in Scotland).

Irvines of Drum's lineal descendants still retain possessions granted them by Robert Bruce. . . Black Christy, turbulent chief, in cause of Queen Mary 1567.

Sir Alexander Irvine, grandson of William de Irvine, was one of the chief commanders of the King's army at the battle of Harlaw, A.D. 1411. He was a valiant champion. In a hand-to-hand encounter with Eachin Ruadh mir Cath, of Clan McLean of Dowart, general of Donald of the Isles, "they fought like lions and killed one another dead on the spot." The prowess of Sir Alexander Irvine is especially celebrated in the battle of Harlaw.

Other heads of the family rendered important services to subsequent sovereigns, and in the 17th century the Laird of Drum vied in wealth and power with many families of noble rank. Sir Alexander Irvine, the Royalist, was the eldest son of Alexander, ninth Laird of Drum, by Lady Marian, daughter of Robert Douglas, Earl of Buchan, born about 1598, died May 1658.

Varied and stirring life.

One of Charles II's most earnest Scottish supporters, and when Charles became King in 1660, he offered Sir Alexander's son Alexander, tenth Laird of Drum, an earldom, which was refused. Sir Alexander, the Royalist, after the reverses his party suffered, was led to conform to the Covenant, though unwillingly, and was appointed Sheriff of Aberdeen in December, 1634.

Christopher Irvine, M.D., who flourished between 1638 and 1685 -- physician, philologist and antiquary -- was a younger son of Christopher Irvine of Robgill Tower, Anandale, and a barrister of the Temple, of the family of Irvine of Bonshaw, in Dumfrieshire. He calls himself on one of the title pages "Irwinus abs. Bon Basco."

Was brother of Sir Gerard Irvine, Bart., of Castle Irvine, of Fermanaugh, who died at Dundalk,1689. Some of family went to Dumfrieshire and settled on River Esk, where one obtained by marriage(?) the lands of Bonshaw in that country. Christopher was a Royalist and an Episcopalian. He says he was historiographer of Charles II; married Margaret, daughter of James Wishard, Laird of Potterow, and had two sons: Christopher (M.D.) and James.

This Christopher died about 1689. He wrote many books: Bellum Grammaticale, Edin. 1650, '58 & "98. Medicina Magnetica "The Arts of Curing by Sympathy," Ln. 1650. (p.8 - Irvines).

The American Irvines descended in direct and unbroken line from the ancient house of Bonshaw, Scotland.

Robert Irvine fled from Scotland to Glenco, Ireland, in 1584. Alexander Irvine, too, settled at Glenco, Ireland, where their ancestor, Robert Irvine and his descendants had owned land since 1584. Irvine's farm unlucky for generations, but they determined to cast aside all superstitious fears and occupy it. Made bleaching green and built mill in partnership with the McDowells (MacDowells), their kinsmen.
(In 1584, 100 Robert Irvine families came from Scotland and the Isles to occupy land of Earl of Antrim, and to find safety from persecution.)

Alexander's love story
At Glenco, North Ireland, Alexander met and wooed a beautiful Irish girl of low degree. Irvine and MacDowell mill at nightfall, at the "fatal trysting tree" - they separated. Just where its immense hole came out of the ground & formed two large trees.

A spy told Alexander's Family -- called back to Edinburg -- night before -- knife with silver handle -- his name in full engraved -- vowed eternal love -- A short time later Alexander married Miss Sophie Gault, removed to north of Ireland where three sons, Andrew, William, and Chris, were born; then to America, some say from Scotland, some say from Ireland.

After a short time girl heard of his marriage; and on one moonlight night stabbed herself with the knife.

Her brother found her, drew knife from her breast and holding it aloft, vowed to never sleep until he plunged the knife, stained by his sister's blood, into Alexander Irvine's heart."

He started that night in a boat to cross North Channel. It went down with all on board. Tradition says Alexander Irvine was a sad and silent man.

No luck on the farm. At certain times around old mill, a bright light is seen that cannot be accounted for. It has been seen several times since Alexander Irvine's sweetheart killed herself beneath the trysting tree. There is the largest yew tree ever seen growing before the old home of the Irvines (planted by an Irvine).

FROM WHENCE THE NAME

The name Irvine. Erevine, from Celtic. Scythic, Erwine, that is, a stout westland man. (Erin view, or fein, Erin, west (the native name of Ireland, as lying west of Scotland), & vine or fein, a strong, resoluteman. Nisbet says when the colonies of the Gauls came from the west coast of Spain and seated themselves on the east coast of Erin and in the west hills and islands of Albyn, the Erevines came to both of these islands.

One Crinan Erevine, was Abthane of Dull, and was Seneschal and Collector of rents for the King in the west isles. Married Princess Beatrix, eldest daughter of Malcolm II and was father of Duncan I.

ROBERT IRVINE

In Glenco, North Ireland, Robert Irvine married Elizabeth Wylie: one son, David, who married Sophia Gault, whose family were of the nobility of Scotland, and descended from the Shaws, who built Ballygally Castle on the shore of the Larne in 1625. Above entrance door of this castle: "God's Providence is my inheritance." Son of David and Sophia Gault, James, married Margaret Wylie, and had ten children born to him, Margaret (married her cousin, Ephraim McDowell [MacDowell?]); Mary (married her cousin, John Wylie) -- both Mary and Margaret died in Ireland and lie buried in olf churchyard of Raloo; Thomas (married and settled in Cushendal, Ireland, where he lived and died and where his descendants now reside; Alex married a kinswoman, Miss Gault; The remaining sons were George, David, William, Robert, James, and Samuel.

The seven Irvine sons last named all came to America between 1725-1739.

George Irvine was one of the seven sons who came to America. He came around 1729 or 1730. George changed his name to Irwin, went to Hardin County, KY, and married Priscilla Harned. They had ten children, one of which was John Irwin (my Great-Great-Grandfather).

Meanwhile, before coming to America, Alexander lived in Scotland and he and his brother Robert were at a hunt in Argyleshire, Scotland, where Alexander got into difficulty with a man and gave him wounds from which he died. Alexander and Robert fled from Scotland in hunting dress and came by night to Gleno, Ireland. Alexander afterward was pardoned, returned to Scotland, and later came from there to America, landing at Philadelphia, and from there to Bedfort County, Virginia.

Alexander had three sons, Andrew, Christopher, and William. He and his wife both died the same day.

Virginia Irvines reared Andrew and Pennsylvania Irvines brought up Christopher and William. Andrew was a revoluntionary soldier. Father and seven who came to America had fled from Scotland on account of political persecution.

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Compiled & edited by Mrs. L. Boyd, Louisville, KY, 1898.
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-- Written in my great aunt Mayme's (Dr. Mayme Irwin Logsdon) handwriting in 1920's and typewritten by my great aunt Mary (Mayme's sister - Mary Elizabeth Irwin) in 1970's.
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FAMILY CONNECTIONS: McDowell, McDowells, Irwin, Irvine, Irvings, Alexander, Laird of Drum, Royalist, Sir Alex Irvine, Queen Mary, Royalist, Alexander Irvine, George Irvine, Clan McLean of Dowart, William Delaware Irvine, Lady Marian, Robert Bruce, Lady Marian, Robert Douglas, battle of Harlaw, Harlaw, Sir Alex Irvine, King of Scotland, Robert Bruce, William Delaware Irvine, Bonshaw, Drum, Earl of Buchan, Charles II, Laird of Drum, Christopher Irvine, Bellum Grammaticale, Medicina Magnetica, American Irvines, Shaw, Margaret Wylie, Ephraim McDowell, John Wylie, Cushendal, Glenco, Cushendal, Raloo, Cushendal, Bedfort County, Virginia, George Irvine, George Irwin, David Irvine, David Irwin, William Irvine, William Irwin, Robert Irvine, James Irvine, Samuel Irwin, Argyleshire,

"Two branches of Irvine family that belonged to the baronage -- Bonshaw and Drum. The Lairds of Drum were descended from William Delaware Irvine, who was armor-bearer to Robert Bruce, and was rewarded for his devoted services by a grant of the forest of Drum, Aberdunshire, at that time part of a royal forest"

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Drum Castle near Aberdeen, Scotland

Located 8 miles west of Aberdeen, it is a pleasant place to visit with extensive grounds, woodland walks and rose garden.

Inside there is lots to see too - portraits, furniture, vaulted ceilings decorated with shields, great hall and much more. Well worth a visit.

Possibly the oldest occupied castle in Scotland, Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire, was home to the Irvine family for more than six and a half centuries, a full twenty-four generations of nearly unbroken succession. The original tower keep, standing seventy feet from base to battlement and fifty feet on a side with walls twelve feet thick at the base is thought to have been built during the reign of Alexander III in the mid-thirteenth century. While the architect of the Tower of Drum is unknown the work is generally attributed to Richard Cementarius, the first provost of Aberdeen. Several prominent interior features of the tower are identical to other structures that are known to be the work of Cementarius and so Drum Tower is credited to him as well. The rambling stone mansion and Jacobean house that now surround the original tower were built during the reign of Alexander, the 9th Laird of Drum and completed in 1619.

One branch or another of the Irvine family has been involved in nearly every major event in Scots history over the past 1,000 years. Their story begins with three brothers Erivine - Erinus, Grim and Duncan. They were the grandsons of Duncan 'the first of the Eryvine' who was killed at Duncrub in 965 A.D. The eldest brother, Erinus, inherited his family's titles as Seneschal of King's Rents, Athbane of Dule and Abbot of Dunkeld, and stood second in rank only to the King. As such he was wed to the eldest daughter of King Malcolm II, who was himself the great great great grandson of Kenneth MacAlpin, in 1004.

The second brother, Grim, seems to have dropped out of history altogether but the third brother, Duncan, became the ancestor of the entire clan. He moved south to the borderlands and in 1018 married an heiress whose inheritance included the lands between the Kirtle and the Esk Rivers, southeast of Lockerbie. They built the Towers of Bonshaw on the banks of the Kirtle and, as the family grew to fill them, many manor houses in what became the ancient home of the Irvine clan.

Malcolm II had three daughters but no male heir and failed to produce one before he was assassinated in 1034. The throne, which had been held for two centuries by the descendants of Kenneth MacAlpin, was filled now by the grandson of Malcolm and son of Erinus, Duncan Erivine I. During his reign, Duncan met with defeat in his campaign against the Norsemen and led the remnants of his army home again in 1040. But on the way he was attacked and killed by his first cousin, MacBeth the Usurper who assumed the throne and ruled for the next seventeen years. Erinus himself was killed by MacBeth's forces in 1045 while seeking revenge for the murder of his son.

The sons of Duncan remained in hiding throughout that time until 1057 when Malcolm Erivine raised an army to challenge MacBeth. With the aid of Lord MacDuff, Thane of Fife, he defeated and executed the Usurper that same year. Malcolm defeated MacBeth's stepson, Lulach, two years later, regained his father's throne and became Malcolm III. This succession included David I (The Saint) who created all the offices of the royal court and William 'The Lion of Justice' who created the lion rampant as his battle crest and coat of arms. The line ended with Alexander III when he rode his horse over a cliff in pitch darkness in March of 1286.

Alexander III was predeceased by all his heirs and with his death, the succession was thrown into wild dispute. No less than thirteen claimants stepped forward to declare their right to the throne, all through some relation to the line of Irvine. John Balliol, the primary claimant, was great great great grandson of David I, while his only serious rival, Robert the Bruce, was great x4. Edward 'Longshanks' of England then imposed his will and chose Balliol from among these rivals to be King of Scotland, so long as he acted in ways that pleased London. When even the compliant and dutiful Balliol could no longer bear to follow the direction of his English benefactor, he was deposed and imprisoned in London. Now only Balliol's nephew, John 'Red' Comyn, stood between Robert the Bruce and the throne. These two agreed to meet at the Church of the Grey Friers in 1306 to resolve their differences. That discussion ended when in the heat of argument, Robert put a dagger through Comyn's heart.

During his campaign, Robert often sought help and refuge from his kinsmen, the Irvines of Bonshaw. He chose from among them, William Delaware Irwyn as one of his principle aides and companions. As the story goes, at one point King Robert found himself put to flight by his enemies with only his aides around him. Exhausted by the chase, the King was compelled to sleep under a holly tree while William stood guard over him. Holly leaves are a prominent feature in all seven family crests which represent the major branches of the Irvine clan. William stood by King Robert again at Bannockburn in June of 1314 and for his service was awarded the Royal Forest of Oaks in Aberdeenshire and Drum Castle which guards it in 1323. This land had previously belong to John Comyn and Robert, as king, was free to do with is as he pleased. Drum was made into a free barony in 1329.

Alexander, Third Laird of Drum, marched away to lead the forces of Aberdeenshire with his cousin the Earl of Mar to meet the invaders from the Hebrides. This was the battle of Harclaw in 1411 before which Alexander made his brother swear that should he be killed, Robert should assume his baronial right at Drum. During that battle, Alexander encountered the ferocious Chief of the MacLeans of Duart in Mull, known as Red Hector of the Battles. After 'noble and notable single combat' the two of them lay dead upon the field, killed by mortal blows struck one upon the other. Younger brother Robert took the oath he swore to his dead brother quite seriously, changed his name to Alexander and married his elder brother's fiance, Elizabeth Delaware Keith. Sometime later he led the delegation which negotiated the release of James I from the hands of the English for which he was knighted.

Drum Castle was plundered to its stones three times during the Covenanting Rebellion throughout which the royalist Irvine's supported the efforts of Charles I. Alexander, 10th Laird of Drum, his brother Robert Federett and his two sons were imprisoned at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh more than once during this time and Alexander was fined 10,000 marks for his loyalty. His younger son, Robert, died there February 4, 1646. The Irvine family remained intensely loyal to the Stuart royalty. The 14th Laird took part in the Jacobite rising of 1715 and Alexander, the 17th Laird joined Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in 1745. He managed to escape imprisonment and forfeiture though he was twice charged with treason.

The 24th and last Laird of Drum, Henry Quentin Forbes Irvine, bequeathed the house and 300 acres of ground to the National Trust for Scotland on his death in November of 1975. It has been open to tours from that time and remains the classic Scottish house.

William IRWYN *, of Bonshaw Castle had the following children:

+2

i.

William (Thomas) IRVINE *, 1st Laird of Drum.